The national gender pay gap is 23 per cent, with women taking home $283.20 less than men each week on average.

At least one woman each week is killed by a partner or former partner in Australia on average.

Just one in four members of the House of Representative are women.

And the list goes on…

This month some of the world’s leading thinkers and change-makers will come together to talk about what to do next: how Australia can start turning these shocking stats on their head as part of the inaugural Breakthrough event in Melbourne.

From journalist Leigh Sales to deputy leader of the opposition party Tanya Plibersek, to political economist and author Dr. Marilyn Waring and activist Clementine Ford, more than 100 speakers will appear at the two-day festival, which is being held by The Victorian Women's Trust one of the oldest philanthropic organisations in the world dedicated to girls and women's equality.

And the best bit? You’re invited.

marie claire is proud to be partnering with the Victorian Women’s Trust to present Breakthrough 2016. Come along and see our editor Nicky Briger speak on Friday, and follow the action on marie claire's Twitter page (from which we'll be live-tweeting).

Breakthrough will be held 25 - 26 November 2016 at the Melbourne Town Hall. Tickets are available at Victorian Women's Trust.